A Conversation with Bill Pace of USB Payments and Esha Joshi of Yoodli
On September 26, Bill Pace, Marcelo Molina of USB Payments, and Esha Joshi of Yoodli discussed AI’s evolving role in sales enablement and training. They explored how AI-powered roleplays are becoming an essential tool for preparing sales teams, highlighting the efficiency and adaptability of this new, innovative approach.
What USB Payments Does
USB Payments specializes in providing efficient payment processing solutions that make transactions easier for businesses of all sizes. Their focus on technology not only improves efficiency but also enhances security, allowing clients to streamline their payment processes and boost customer satisfaction all at costs generally lower than their competitors. In the last 3 months, they’ve adopted AI roleplays in their sales training and it has led them to book 19% more meetings with a 20% improvement in meeting quality.
Why AI Roleplays Are the New Enablement Tool
Bill emphasized the impact of AI roleplays on training new sales reps at USB Payments, particularly in quickly ramping up their skills. Reflecting on a past experience, he noted, “That was the first time I’d had somebody in that kind of timeframe that we could get ramped up ready to go for an intricate, detailed product.” AI can compress training timelines and help salespeople master complex products faster than traditional methods.
The flexibility AI offers is another key advantage. “If we hear something consistently on calls that is different or new tomorrow, I could build that practice in by Monday.” This adaptability makes AI roleplays a responsive and evolving tool, allowing sales trainers to adjust role plays based on the latest challenges their teams face.
Building Confidence Through Practice
One of the standout themes from the conversation was how AI roleplays help sales reps build confidence. As Bill pointed out, many new reps feel uncomfortable during early stages of training, but repetitive practice with AI can smooth out that learning curve. “If I’ve done it, you know, 8, 10, 20 times with AI, it starts to come out a little bit more consistently,” he said.
AI roleplays also create a safe space for reps to experiment and refine their pitches without the pressure of real-time judgment. Marcelo, account executive at USB Payments, said, “I can be more confident with an AI and say things that I’m not necessarily ready to say to my decision maker… It’s good to practice on an AI where it doesn’t matter what they think; I can just reset it.”
This opportunity to test approaches, fail safely, and iterate helps reps prepare for high-stakes interactions, translating into better real-world performance. Bill noted, “If they start going for it with AI, pretty soon I start to hear them start to go for it in real life.” AI provides a bridge from practice to performance, turning simulations into tangible results.
Customized Roleplays for Real-World Challenges
The ability to tailor roleplays to reflect real-world sales scenarios is a game-changer for training programs. Bill shared how USB Payments customizes AI roleplays to address specific challenges reps encounter on live calls. “I could build all the problems that come up so they get to practice the things that we know are going to come up in live calls,” he explained.
This customization ensures that sales teams aren’t just practicing generic sales pitches—they’re rehearsing the actual hurdles they’re likely to face, making the training more practical and relevant.
Yoodli: A Leader in AI-Powered Roleplays
At the core of USB Payment’s shift towards AI-driven enablement is Yoodli’s coaching platform (explainer). Yoodli provides sales teams with an AI-powered sales coach that helps them refine their communication skills, overcome discomfort, and become more consistent in their delivery.
As Bill summed up, “One of the things I find with new sales reps is sometimes it’s just uncomfortable to talk to prospects. But through Yoodli, they can practice difficult conversations until they feel more at ease.” Yoodli has become a key partner in transforming the way sales teams at USB Payments, Google Cloud, and BDO New Zealand are trained and prepared.
Braintrust, a leader in neuroscience-backed sales training and leadership development, and Yoodli, an AI-powered communication coaching platform, are thrilled to announce a strategic partnership.
This collaboration aims to integrate Yoodli’s advanced AI technology into Braintrust’s elite sales training and coaching services, offering real-time, personalized feedback to accelerate sales teams’ development and boost their overall performance.
Braintrust has a proven track record of success, partnering with over 100 industry-leading companies and delivering programs rooted in neuroscience and behavioral psychology-backed communication & sales techniques.
Yoodli’s AI coach will seamlessly integrate into Braintrust’s existing sales programs by providing real-time analysis and personalized recommendations, the platform will enable Braintrust’s clients to practice and refine their communication skills in a judgment-free environment.
“Sales leaders are telling us that in 2024 they can no longer afford to have their sales reps practicing on their valuable live leads. We’re thrilled to partner with Braintrust, a company that shares our commitment to helping professionals reach their full potential,” said Ajay Jain, Head of Training and Enablement at Yoodli.
“This new AI partnership, combined with our already existing neuroscience-backed sales methodology will revolutionize the way sales professionals and leaders develop their communication skills.”, says Jeff Bloomfield, CEO of Braintrust.
By integrating Yoodli’s AI technology, Braintrust will further enhance its coaching services, providing their sales clients with the tools and insights they need to succeed in today’s competitive landscape.
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Yoodli, a Seattle-based company, helps individuals improve their communication skills using AI. Users can get in-the-moment coaching during online meetings, or they can practice for an upcoming speech, conversation, or interview with AI. Yoodli will then generate feedback on their content, conciseness, and speaking attributes such as executive presence, reliance on filler words, and pacing. Yoodli has been rolled out in over 150 countries by Toastmasters International, leading business schools, and hundreds of thousands of leaders globally. For more information, visit Yoodli’s website.
Dale Carnegie Texas and Yoodli today announced a collaboration to deliver personalized and real-time AI-powered communication coaching for professionals.
Yoodli is an AI-powered communications company based in Seattle. With Yoodli, you can get real-time coaching during your online meeting, or you can train for your next presentation, conversation, or interview using AI. After training, Yoodli provides feedback on your content, clarity, and speaking attributes like executive presence, filler word usage, and pace.
Yoodli’s coaching can be customized around your coaching framework. Dale Carnegie AI, powered by Yoodli, will coach Dale Carnegie clients on their public speaking using the bespoke Dale Carnegie IP and learning methods. “Almost everyone in the world has heard of Dale Carnegie’s impact in the world of public speaking” said Esha Joshi, Co Founder at Yoodli. We’re honored to be taking this legacy and bringing it to millions more people using cutting edge AI.
Dale Carnegie believed that great presenters are not born. They take the time and the commitment to learn and practice essential skills and make them their own. With the right coaching you can discover your unique strengths as a presenter and develop additional skills and professional characteristics that can push you to your next level of success as a leader in your organization.
“At Dale Carnegie, we stand behind our century-long commitment to pioneering personal and professional development. Our unique coaching methodology, blending AI-powered precision with the irreplaceable human touch of in-person coaching, is the cornerstone of our clients’ exponential breakthroughs. At Dale Carnegie, we don’t just believe in transformative experiences; we create them.” – David Wright, President & CEO
LifeHikes is one of the best options for career growth, skill development, and improved performance in the workplace.
We’ll tell you everything you need to know about this organization and its programs, from its features and offerings to the pros and cons.
What Is LifeHikes?
LifeHikes is an organization that offers programs to improve communication and leadership among communities and individuals. It also provides sales and life skills. LifeHikes programs leverage communication technology, team-based learning, and life coaching to promote a holistic ecosystem for learning.
This organization also has a coalition of leaders from successful, well-known companies such as:
LifeHikes has a public non-profit known as the LifeHikes Foundation. It’s a partner to LifeHikes and offers both low-cost and free leadership and communication training to communities who are underserved or can’t usually afford this type of training.
Its mission is to empower communities and society to give more and to do good, with special focus areas for:
Educators
People of color
High schoolers
Smaller nonprofit organizations
Women
LifeHikes clients
The LifeHikes organization has many well-known, large clients that it provides training programs for. For example, some of LifeHikes’ clients include brands like:
This organization has many worthwhile features and offerings to take advantage of. For example, LifeHikes offers programs and services including:
Team-based training
1:1 sessions
Open enrollment
The Loop
Let’s take a closer look at some of these features.
Team-based training
No matter your organization’s size, location, or skills, LifeHikes has something to offer with regard to team-based training. Teams can pick up essential career skills — from effective communication to leadership abilities and even sales skills — in whatever format is best, whether that’s in person, hybrid, or virtual.
You can choose training by skill and the level of growth. For example, if you’re looking for some improvement but not a multiple-course training, you can take advantage of the standalone learning experience LifeHikes offers. These bite-sized trainings focus on a specific topic area with a few learning objectives for growth.
However, for teams looking for a bit more, LifeHikes’ multi-week training might be a better fit. This option offers a whole host of its own benefits, such as:
Interactive technology
Intersession practice
Measurable assessments
For the most growth, LifeHikes offers customers a learning experience called the LifeHikes Loop. This includes all the aforementioned benefits coupled with additional offerings, such as:
90-minute sessions for reflection
1:1 coaching
“Campfires,” the self-led book clubs LifeHikes promotes
1:1 Coaching
For a more tailored, personalized experience, LifeHikes’ 1:1 coaching is worth checking out. You’ll be able to build and hone in on your skills in a more customizable way. The way you receive coaching can depend on what skills you want to work on, your industry, where you are in your career, and your schedule.
For example, some of the categories in which you can improve your skills include:
LifeHikes’ open enrollment is a good choice for teams who are looking for a more customizable package. It’s a helpful option for people who want to cater to their team’s schedules and learning needs.
You can choose topic areas to focus on based on what best aligns with your company or organization. There are tons of topics to choose from, including:
“Connect First”
“Executive Presence”
“Dynamic Delivery”
“Be Memorable”
“Engage Your Audience”
“Powerfully Concise & Better Questions”
“Deliver Difficult Messages”
“Storytelling For Impact”
“Handle Tough Questions & Objections”
“Consultative Selling”
These training sessions are also really easy to set up. All you have to do is pick a training, choose a date and time, and schedule it.
The Loop
The Loop is LifeHikes’ ongoing training program. It allows you to continuously grow and improve your team’s skills in a lifelong learning approach. The Loop includes both pre- and post-learning AI assessments and coach-led training sessions in a team-based learning environment.
For the most growth and development for teams, the Loop is definitely one of the best learning options out there.
LifeHikes Pros and Advantages
As you might expect, LifeHikes has many notable advantages to its programs. Some of the most beneficial pros to using LifeHikes include:
More career advancement opportunities
Skill development
Improved performance at and outside of work
Career advancement opportunities
You can use LifeHikes’ programs in many ways, one of which being for career advancement. Using LifeHikes to work on your soft skills will open up more opportunities for career progression, allowing you to do what you like best.
For example, individuals who use LifeHikes not only work on building new skills and improving existing skills, but also see a boost in their confidence. Having more confidence in yourself and at work can help you in a number of ways, such as:
Negotiating salary
Taking on more, larger responsibilities and tasks
Preparing for interviews
This enhanced confidence plus the new skills you’ll learn can bridge the gap between where you want to go in your career and your current skillset.
You’ll also be connected to a huge network of professionals through LifeHikes. The global community of this organization can open your eyes to an entire world of networking opportunities. You can connect to mentors and other professionals who have similar interests.
These connections can even affect your career trajectory.
Skill development
Of course, one of LifeHikes’ biggest (and most obvious) advantages is that you’ll be able to hone your existing skills and build new skills. Teams and individuals get to improve the most essential skills they need in the workplace. For example, some of the most beneficial skills you can pick up and build on include:
Effective communication
Critical thinking
Leadership
Problem-solving abilities
Digital literacy
These are all sought-after skills that employers look for which just adds to your marketability as an employee.
Plus, teams and individuals alike are able to pick up these skills even faster thanks to LifeHikes’ micro-learning format. Instead of lengthy lessons, you’ll get snackable modules that can be completed no matter how busy your schedule is.
Overall improved performance
Using LifeHikes can improve your overall performance at work (and outside of work), too. The skills you acquire and your boosted confidence allow you to do the best work you can and perform better in your job. Employers will see you as a more valuable employee and asset to the company. This can translate to more recognition by your organization as well as raises and promotions.
LifeHikes Cons and Disadvantages
Like any business or service, LifeHikes definitely has its disadvantages. Though these aren’t necessarily deal breakers, some of the cons of using LifeHikes include:
Its cost
The lack of personalization options
Its overall focus on soft skills
Cost
Although LifeHikes does offer low-cost and even free options, these options aren’t available for everyone. The pricing model could be considered on the higher end compared to other, more generic alternatives.
With more traditional training options, the cost is often more manageable and accessible than LifeHikes.
Personalization options
Personalized experiences are a huge component of technology and training services. LifeHikes doesn’t offer options that are significantly more personalized from one client to another with its team-based learning (although 1:1s are still an option).
With traditional training programs, coaches can often personalize the experience based on the individual or team. If you’re looking for more personal interaction, a more generic program might be more your speed.
Training focus
It’s no secret that LifeHikes’ training focus is on soft skills. However, this can be a significant disadvantage for people looking for training in technical areas or more specific subject areas. LifeHikes doesn’t offer this in-depth expertise in areas other than business development and soft skills.
To make sure LifeHikes is the right program for you, just make sure that the curriculum and training it offers aligns with the skill gaps and learning objectives you’re looking to bridge for your company or organization.
Yoodli: A LifeHikes Alternative
If you’re looking for an alternative to LifeHikes, you should explore Yoodli. Yoodli is an AI-powered speech coach that can help both individuals and teams improve their speech.
This app — which can be downloaded for free right to your desktop — is used by Toastmasters and major companies like Microsoft and Google. It has many use cases beyond just improving your public speaking skills. You can use this tool to practice anything from presentations to everyday conversation and online meetings. It even has an interview simulator that provides users with a realistic, sophisticated virtual interview experience that mimics the real thing.
Like LifeHikes, Yoodli can help individuals and teams build their soft skills, especially when it comes to effective communication. Yoodli uses generative AI to analyze your speaking and speech content to suggest actionable feedback based on your habits.
For example, Yoodli might flag that you used 54 filler words during your presentation. It might suggest you implement some natural pauses to reduce how many fillers you use. It can even recommend areas where you can tighten your language and make it more concise.
Yoodli is the perfect complement or alternative to LifeHikes to help improve your communication.
All of this information and more is accessible to users through an individualized report with metrics and data regarding your speaking. You can use the personalized report it provides to take a hard look at your own speech shortcomings to improve.
As an AI speech coach, Yoodli’s feedback is detailed and tailored to your abilities. Yoodli can even complement LifeHikes in that you can put your communication skills and techniques you learned through its program to the test.
You can learn more about Yoodli with our overview explainer:
Yoodli is the perfect LifeHikes complement (or affordable alternative).
The Bottom Line
LifeHikes is a worthwhile learning program service to consider if you’re in the market for team growth and development. It can lead to career advancement, skill development, and overall improved performance at and outside of work.
You can use Yoodli as a complement to LifeHikes or as an affordable alternative to build and improve your effective communication skills. Just remember that growth isn’t always linear and putting in all the work and effort is worth it in the end.
If you plan to use your voice for an upcoming speech, a performance, or another event, you need to practice some vocal warm ups.
These exercises can help improve your tone, your pitch, and even your confidence.
In our guide, we’ll check out the nine best vocal warm ups that professionals swear by, while also digging a little deeper into why these warm ups are needed in the first place.
What Is a Vocal Warm Up?
A vocal warm up is a method or exercise that helps you prepare for speaking or singing. Tons of well-known actors, singers, speakers, and other performers credit these types of activities to their vocal success.
Why Should You Use Vocal Warm Ups?
It’s important to use vocal warm ups to “warm up” your voice. Warming them up with various exercises and techniques helps keep your voice shipshape.
Vocal warm ups are also meant to improve how your voice sounds when you’re speaking or singing. Singers, for example, can often expand their range and perform better after warming up.
Plus, one easy way of protecting your voice from damage is using warm up exercises. These warm ups can also help you work on avoiding vocal fry, if that’s a goal of yours.
Who Uses Vocal Warm Ups?
Vocal warm ups are techniques and methods meant to warm up someone’s voice before using it. Tons of people use vocal warm ups to reap all benefits of warming up.
Vocal warm ups for speakers
For speakers, vocal warm ups are often overlooked. Using various ways to warm up your voice before speaking can facilitate speech by allowing you to use the entirety of your voice.
For example, you’ll have a more expansive range when speaking since you’ll be able to access more tones and pitches.
In fact, you can review and analyze your speech and speaking patterns before and after these vocal warm ups with Yoodli, an AI speech coach.
This communication coach app can give you critical insights on your speech, like your speaking pace, word choice, body language, and even the content of your speech.
Using Yoodli to practice after your vocal warm ups is a great way to improve your speaking.
After you’ve recorded it, you can play back your speech (and vocal warm ups) and see how you did! Learn more about it here.
Check out Private Yoodli to see how you can benefit from this, along with your vocal warm ups.
Vocal warm ups for singers
For singers, vocal warm ups are arguably even more important. In fact, some vocal coaches deem them necessary for singers.
Singing is very involved and physically demanding, so using various methods to warm up is always the right move. You’ll get much more out of your natural vocal range while also protecting your voice quality.
Vocal warm ups for actors
Actors need to use vocal warm ups, too. Acting, including voice acting, takes a toll physically since the lines usually need to be said multiple times.
Doing vocal warm ups before and in between scenes can help lower the chances of you straining your voice while also keeping your vocal muscles active.
Like with singers and speakers, these types of warm ups can benefit your tonal range and give you more of a depth to work with.
Vocal warm ups for kids
There are also some specific vocal warm ups for kids that can be beneficial.
With vocal warm ups for kids, keep in mind that children often find warming up their voice to be really boring and tedious. This can make doing vocal warm ups for kids a challenging task.
To mitigate this, make sure you use a lot of positive energy. Kids will reflect. the energy you put out, so set the tone and make sure it stays positive. Choose vocal warm ups from the list below that are most engaging and fun.
It’s also worth checking out and exploring other vocal warm ups for kids, such as this video of fun, silly, and engaging warm ups:
Making sure vocal warm ups for kids are fun, exciting, and engaging is a must.
When to Use Vocal Warm Ups
There are lots of times when using vocal warm ups is helpful and even considered necessary.
For example, you may want to use a vocal warm up before a:
Speech
Show rehearsal
Singing lessons
Presentation
Always aim to start these vocal warm ups less than half an hour before you sing or speak so your voice has time to get ready.
9 Best Vocal Warm Ups
If you’ve never experimented with different kinds of warm ups, don’t worry. Although there are tons of options out there, there’s a handful of basic exercises you should have in your back pocket next time you need them.
Here are the nine best vocal warm ups for speakers, singers, actors, and anyone else who needs to warm up their voice.
1. Humming
Humming is a great vocal warm up, whether you’re preparing to act out a scene, perform a song, or give a speech. Humming is a natural way to relax the muscles in your face and can actually revitalize your voice.
The goal is to try a gentle humming so you can focus on the sound and hone in on preparing those vocal folds. In fact, you can do this exercise throughout the day.
2. Sighing and yawning
Sighing and yawning are other smart ways to warm yourself up before a performance or a speech. That’s because when you yawn, you also drop your jaw and extend your soft palate.
It helps regulate your breathing and when your brain receives more oxygen, you become more alert and aware.
In fact, Morgan Freeman — an actor arguably most famous for his vocals — credited yawning as one of his vocal warm ups in an interview. You can hear him discuss his process in the below interview:
Morgan Freeman discusses the best vocal warm up that he recommends to everyone.
3. Lip buzzing
Just like humming, lip buzzing (as well as lip trills) help your voice get warmed up by restoring your vocal muscles and easing any facial tension.
This exercise is pretty simple. All you need to do is blow air out of your nose and mouth to make your lips move and vibrate. The result? A sound similar to that of a motorboat. If you’re a singer, you can experiment with different pitches, too.
4. Tongue twisters
Tongue twisters are all about articulation and enunciation. Whether you’re singing or speaking, you want the audience to be able to understand you.
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t fuzzy, was he?
She sells seashells by the seashore.
I wish to wash my Irish wristwatch before watching Trish wash her wrist.
A big black bug bit a big black bear.
Learning how to speak eloquently in particular can be a challenge, but tongue twisters can help.
5. Breathing exercises
Because both singing and speaking involve breath control, doing some breathing exercises before a speech or performance is a good idea. These exercises can even expand your vocal range and relax your vocal folds.
Here’s one way to focus on your breathing. Start by laying down flat on your back. Place your hands on your stomach to feel how your diaphragm moves. Your diaphragm is a muscle that flattens and contracts when you breathe in.
While you’re on your back, you want to engage your diaphragm while also focusing on the task at hand. If you’re a singer, try practicing singing a song of your choice while on the ground and be aware of your breath.
If you’re practicing for a speech or if you’re a voice actor, do this same exercise except swap the song to practice reading through your lines.
6. The ‘straw trick’
The “straw trick” is a pretty popular vocal warm up among singers especially. It’s an accessible warm up exercise, especially because you only need one tool: A straw. Here’s how to do it.
Start with the straw in your mouth. You can begin by simply breathing in and breathing out, through the straw. Another popular method is to hum one of your favorite songs, again, through the straw.
Using the straw trick is an excellent way to hone in on your breathing, since your lips are constantly closed around the straw. Make sure while you’re doing this that you keep your face and body still.
7. The ‘vocal siren’ exercise
Imagine the sound that a typical emergency vehicle or alarm might make: a siren sound. For this warm up, make an “oooo” sound in your lowest register.
As you make this continuous sound, explore your own range by getting higher little by little before returning back down to your lowest range.
8. Hissing when you exhale
This type of warm up is also tied pretty closely to your breathing. Begin by taking in a big breath. As you let your breath out, hiss on the exhale by making a “ssss” sound. Then, repeat the process.
Make sure you’re altering how long you breathe in and hiss. Essentially, you want to try to hiss for longer and longer amounts of time (until you’re out of breath).
The vocal warm up naturally helps you focus on your breath and breathing.
9. Body stretches
Stretching your body is definitely one of the most underrated vocal warm up tips on the list. Although you might not think of stretching before you speak or sing, doing a few body stretches beforehand can actually help expand your rib cage and open up your lungs.
Here’s an easy body stretch you can try:
While standing, inhale deeply through your nose.
Stretch your arms up as far as they’ll go (without hurting).
Exhale your breath slowly.
With your arms still stretched up, lean to one side and hold it to get a good stretch.
Repeat with the other side.
As an alternative, you can also do this exercise sitting down with your back straight and upright.
More Vocal Warm Up Tips
Vocal warm ups are fantastic on their own, but if you have a big speech or other type of performance coming up, here are some more tips to make sure your voice is the best it can be.
Take a nice, hot shower
Taking a steaming hot shower is something people might not think of, but a hot shower can do wonders for your vocals. One of the key benefits is that showers hydrate your voice due to the humid, steamy environment.
To best reap the benefits of a hot shower, take long, deep breaths to breathe in the steam. This will relax and open your vocals and allow you to speak and sing better.
Plus, if you’re a singer, taking a hot shower has other benefits like:
Better acoustics when you sing
A more well-rounded tone
Improved volume control due to the acoustics
A safe space to practice
Get good sleep
Before any important performance or speech, you need to get good sleep. Being tired can affect your performance significantly, so make sure you take the time to get rest.
Adults need 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep every night. When you get less than 7 hours of sleep, your body pays the price. In fact, those who sleep less than 7 hours have an increased chance of health issues.
Stay hydrated
Similarly to how a hot shower hydrates your voice, you need to remember to keep your body hydrated, too. Starting a few days before your performance or speech, make sure you’re consistently drinking water to keep yourself hydrated.
Adults should aim to drink about 11.5 to 15.5 cups of water a day for best results.
Avoid smoking and vaping
Both smoking and vaping dehydrate your voice and dry out your throat. Both of these activities bother your lungs and the lining of your throat, which is why people often cough when they smoke or vape.
Because both smoke and vapor from vapes get so hot, you could burn your throat, too. Vaping and smoking definitely affect the quality of your voice, so for the best performance, steer clear of smoking and vaping.
Vocal Warm Up FAQs
Because doing vocal warm ups is becoming more and more popular, there are more questions emerging about what the perfect warm up is, how vocal warm ups work, etc.
Here are the top vocal warm up FAQs (about the warm ups themselves as well as other related queries) to clear up any confusion you might have.
1. How long should a vocal warm up be?
Technically, a vocal warm up can be as long as you want it to be. In an ideal world though, consider shooting for a 30-minute warm up. But keep your maximum at 30 minutes — doing vocal warm ups for longer than that can really hurt your vocal cords.
Yes, you can absolutely overuse your vocal cords. That’s why vocal warm ups are so important. If you overuse your vocal cords, you could lose your voice or get a sore throat. Further damage is a possibility, too.
3. How can I strengthen my vocal cords?
Doing vocal warm ups for 30 minutes is a great way to strengthen your vocal cords. But you can also strengthen them by doing things like:
Staying hydrated
Keeping your vocal cords moist by chewing gum (and not clearing your throat)
Letting your voice rest (take a day off for every three days of using your voice extensively during a performance or speech)
Not smoking or vaping
4. What can I drink for my voice?
Hydration is key, whether you’re a professional speaker or a singer.
But you can also drink other specific things to improve your voice quality, such as:
Warm water
Herbal teas (especially with ginger, lemon, or manuka honey)
If your goal is to add some more energy to your singing, one great way to do this is to participate in swimming, power yoga, or pilates, as all of these help you work on your breath and lung capacity.
As you probably guessed, doing vocal warm ups can also add energy to singing.
6. What happens if you don’t do vocal warm ups?
If you don’t do vocal warm-ups, it can make it harder to speak or, if you’re a singer, harder to hit high notes. It can also lead to a breathy tone.
When you don’t worm up, you’re risking further damage like developing nodules or polyps.
The Key Takeaway
Vocal warm ups — though sometimes overlooked — offer a great way to stimulate your vocal cords and prepare for your upcoming performance or speech. You can even test out the theory that these exercises improve your voice by recording a “before and after” video on Yoodli and analyzing the results.
Whichever voice warm ups you choose to try, be sure to do them close to your speech or performance to get the most out of these exercises.
Learning how to write an obituary can be a draining, exhausting task. But it doesn’t have to be.
Even though it’s a somber occasion, obituaries are written to honor a loved one who’s died, and they can be beautiful recollections of the person’s life.
We’ll help you learn how to write an obituary, including what to say, what not to say, and how to use our obituary template.
What Is an Obituary?
An obituary is a type of notice that acknowledges someone’s death.
These kinds of announcements are created to let other people know details about things like:
Burial services
Memorials
Funeral plans
Viewing details
Obituaries also exist as a written memorial for a loved one. As such, they usually include information about the person and the life they lived.
How to Write an Obituary
If you’re tasked with writing an obituary, you might feel anxious, especially if you’ve never written one. Luckily, learning how to write an obituary isn’t as complex as it might seem at first.
A great place to start is identifying some important details about the person. For example, it’s a good idea to include information such as:
Their full name
Where they lived
How old they were when they died
When they died (you could also include the city and state where they died)
Names of family members who passed away before the person
Any surviving family members’ names
In a nutshell, an obituary can act as a concise overview of the person’s life.
Aside from including information about your loved one, you’ll also want to add any details about an upcoming memorial service or funeral. An obituary is also a good place to specify whether or not the memorial service is a public or private event.
Although not all obituaries include this, you can also add details about where other people can send donations.
When learning how to write an obituary, keep in mind that you have total control of what you include and you can absolutely leave out information as you see fit.
After you’ve completely finished your obituary, review it line by line and fact-check it to make sure all the dates, facts, and spellings, and other information is correct. It might be a good idea to let another family member review it too just for an extra set of eyes.
You can also use Yoodli to review your obituary. Here’s how.
Yoodli, a communication coach app, uses AI technology to analyze a person’s speech. Try recording yourself reading your obituary and upload it to Yoodli. You’ll get immediate analytics related to your speech and speaking patterns, such as filler word usage, word choice, speaking rate, and other metrics.
When Yoodli analyzes your obituary, it’ll give you actionable tips to make your obit better. For example, Yoodli might target specific areas of your obituary to tighten up. Not only that, but it’ll give you specific suggestions for how you should reword problematic or awkward areas.
Plus, experts say that reading your writing aloud is a great way to review it since you’re more likely to spot grammatical errors, misspellings, and other kinds of mistakes.
Still, you can use Yoodli for more than reviewing your obituary. Learn more about it below.
After you learn how to write an obituary, read it out loud to analyze it with Yoodli.
What should you not include in an obituary?
There are definitely some things you shouldn’t include in an obituary. Here are three quick things to not include in an obituary.
1. Your (or your loved one’s) mother’s maiden name
Although it’s pretty common to include a person’s maiden name in an obituary, scammers will use obituaries to find out this exact information. They can use the maiden name to answer security questions and potentially hack into your online accounts.
You can still include the maiden name, but just know it carries a small risk.
2. Your loved one’s address
Never include an exact address in your obituary. When you’re first learning how to write an obituary, it might seem natural to include this information, but it can be dangerous to share such sensitive information, even in an obit.
Believe it or not, people occasionally look to obituaries to find out when the service will be, where the family lives, and for how long they’ll be out of the house.
3. Negative emotions toward the person who’s passed
There’s a chance that you weren’t close to the person who died. If that’s the case, try not to be tempted to include negativity when figuring out how to write an obituary.
Just because someone has died doesn’t mean they’re already a good person. If you weren’t emotionally close to the person when they were alive, try to just stick to the facts and steer clear of any negative feelings.
If this feels too difficult, it might be easier and less stressful to let someone else write the obituary for you.
Why is cause of death not included in an obituary?
The cause of death isn’t included in an obituary simply because nobody really needs to know. It’s not anyone’s business to know what happened to your loved one. Plus, there’s no rule that you have to include the cause of death in the obit.
People also don’t include the cause of death in an obituary because the family is still likely grieving and seeing the cause of death can be emotionally painful for family members.
Is it OK to write your own obituary?
Many people write their own obituary for one reason or another. There are definitely advantages to writing your own. For example, when you do it yourself, you get to tell your own brief life story.
Plus, you’ll know exactly what your obituary will say when you die, unlike people who don’t pre-write their obit.
Writing your own can also help your family members in the future by saving them from having to do something that could be painful for them during the grieving period.
Obituary Template
When you’re learning how to write an obituary, a template is especially helpful. We can generally break down an obituary template to include general info, life details, family information, memorial service details, and other information. Check out this obituary template to learn how to write and format your own.
To use this obituary template, fill in the information from the following bulleted lists.
General info
In the first section, include general information about the person. This can include the loved one’s:
Full name (including any nicknames)
Age when they died
Date of death, including the day, month, and year
Place of death (such as the city and state)
Residence (for example, the name of the city) at death
Also include where the person was living (although not the person’s full address). It’s best to just stick to a city and state.
Life details
Obituaries also need life details. Using this obituary template, you can fill out information about:
When they were born
Where they were born
What their parents’ names are
Who their siblings are
Any anecdotes about their childhood that you’d like to include
If your loved one was married: the marriage date, the place they were married, and the name of their partner
Where they went to school (could include high school, university, etc.)
Any noteworthy achievements or awards they’ve won
Where they worked (if they weren’t working when they died, you could also include where they worked the majority of their life, or the industry they worked in)
Their military service if they served in any branches of the military
Where they lived or traveled throughout their life
Any of their favorite hobbies or interests
Any affiliations they might have, such as religious, political, charitable, etc.
If you’re comfortable, you can also include any humorous stories or unique things about them.
Family info
Of course, family information is pretty common to include, too. When mentioning family in an obituary, there are two main categories: who the loved one is survived by and who died before them.
For surviving family members, you can include them in the following order:
Their partner (if they were married, engaged, dating, etc.)
Their children (which should be organized by age) and their partners
The loved one’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren, or great-great-grandchildren
Their parents, if they’re still living
Their grandparents, if they’re still living
The loved one’s siblings (also organized by age)
Siblings (in order of date of birth)
You can also include information about other surviving family members. For example, you could mention any important friends, cousins, nephews, nieces, or in-laws depending on their relationship with the loved one. You can even mention pets and their names, especially if they were especially loved to the person who passed away.
Some people choose to also list the city and state for their family members when naming surviving family members.
For people who passed away before your loved one, you can include:
Their partner
Their children (organized by age)
Their grandchildren
The loved one’s siblings (organized by age)
Like the surviving family members’ info, you can also include in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins in the section of people who passed away before your loved one. Similarly, you can also mention if they had an especially loved pet who died before them.
You can also include the date or year they died.
Memorial service details
Any details about a memorial service or funeral can be shared in an obituary, too.
If you’re having a funeral, a viewing, a vigil, a graveside service, or some other memorial service, you might want to mention:
When the service is, including the day and time
Where the service is
If there’s a visitation: what day and time it is, as well as where it is
If there’s a reception: what day and time it is, as well as where it is
The name of the funeral home
Name of officiant, pallbearers, honorary pallbearers, other information
If you’d like, you can also include information like the names of the pallbearers or officiant.
Other info to include
There’s other information you can include too, like:
A poem or motivational quote
An acknowledgement of thanks for the people involved
Any memorial funds or place to donate, such as gofundme
If there’s anything else you’d like to include that’s not explicitly stated in the obituary template, feel free.
3 Noteworthy Obituary Examples
If you’re still having trouble visualizing what the obituary could look like based on the above obituary template, some examples might help shed light on what they can look like.
“Euphoria” star Angus Cloud died July 31, 2023 at the age of 25. His family didn’t release his cause of death, as was noted in the New York Times’ obit. The writer details Cloud’s acting on the show “Euphoria” — especially as he had no prior acting experience — and mentioned that although his character was supposed to be killed off, the show’s creator kept Cloud’s character just based on his natural acting abilities.
This article also included a quote from Cloud’s family, who said: “The only comfort we have is knowing Angus is now reunited with his dad, who was his best friend … Angus was open about his battle with mental health and we hope that his passing can be a reminder to others that they are not alone and should not fight this on their own in silence.”
Tori Bowie, a renown, respected Olympic athlete, died April 23, 2023 from complications from childbirth. In NPR’s obituary for Bowie, the writer uses her recent death as a talking point to highlight the risks for Black Americans, especially when it comes to preeclampsia and eclampsia.
This obit also details Bowie’s personal journey and how inspiring it was. NPR also included a quote from Bowie that shows her impressive resolve, who said: “My grandmother’s No. 1 rule was that once you start something, you don’t quit,” she told “Women’s Running.” “From a young age, she never let me give up on anything.”
Famous comedian Robin Williams died on Aug. 11, 2014 by suicide. His sudden death shook the world and resparked conversations about the importance of mental health. The BBC’s obit for Williams commended his work as a comedian, but also for his “more nuanced” acting.
The BBC further details Williams’ life, from his birth to his acceptance into Julliard to his film “Good Morning Vietnam.” The obituary also lists his surviving family members: His widow, Susan Schneider; his daughter Zelda; and his sons Zachary and Cody.
The Key Takeaway
Learning how to write an obituary doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as you’d think. Following an obituary template can also save you some time in terms of considering what to include. You can even use tools like Yoodli to analyze and improve your obituary when you read it out loud.
You can think of being tasked with figuring out how to write an obituary as an honor that you’re more than capable of handling.
Being confident isn’t always easy. If you want to improve your self-confidence, don’t worry: it’s completely doable.
In our comprehensive guide, we’ll give you all the information and tools you need to boost your self-confidence — in just seven steps.
What Is Self-Confidence?
Self-confidence is your own belief and attitude toward yourself and your capabilities. When you’re self-confident, you’re proud and trust yourself completely. Because of that, you also tend to have an optimistic, positive perspective when you’re confident in yourself.
Self-esteem vs. self-confidence
The line between self-esteem and self-confidence is thin because they tend to overlap. Still, that doesn’t mean they’re the same.
While self-esteem refers to how you value and respect yourself, self-confidence includes the faith you have in yourself and your capabilities.
Even so, the two terms really go hand-in-hand.
Self-confidence synonyms
If you’re unfamiliar with what self-confidence means, sometimes a few synonyms can help shed light on the meaning.
Some of the best self-confidence synonyms include:
Belief in oneself
Self-assurance
Inner strength
Self-reliance
Positive self-image
Signs You Have Low Self-Confidence
Low-self confidence means that you have trouble trusting yourself and others because you don’t feel confident in yourself.
Signs you have low-confidence could include things like:
Having trouble hearing criticism about yourself
Feeling inferior, sad, ashamed, worthless, anxious, depressed, or even angry
Experiencing self-doubt
Having a hard time accepting compliments
Becoming upset when someone else disapproves
Steering clear of tasks or obstacles only because you’re afraid you’ll fail
If you do think you have low self-confidence, there’s no need to stress. There are plenty of simple, easy ways to boost your self-confidence.
7 Easy Ways to Improve Your Self-Confidence
If you’re looking to improve your self-confidence, look no further. We’ve simplified the best ways to improve your confidence in yourself in just seven simple ways.
Here are the seven best ways to boost your self-confidence.
1. Recognize your own strengths.
Recognizing and acknowledging your own strengths and “wins” is very important to boosting and maintaining your self-confidence. Knowing what you’re best at emphasizes your abilities and helps you visualize your achievements better. This includes celebrating your own accomplishments and following your progress.
If you don’t immediately know what your personal strengths are, that’s totally OK. Here are some helpful ways you can recognize and identify your strengths:
Ask your friends and family members what they think your strengths are
Take some time to figure out what you like most and why you like them (this can jog your memory and help you realize your skills)
2. Practice your impromptu speaking skills.
You might not be surprised to find out that your own self-confidence is often tied to your ability to communicate effectively. One of the best ways to improve your self-confidence is to work on your communication skills.
To improve your view of yourself and your abilities, try working with an AI speech coach like Yoodli.
Yoodli uses AI technology to analyze your speech and speaking patterns when you upload or record a video of yourself talking. As part of its analysis, you’ll get not only a full transcript of what was said, but also specific metrics and insights to your own speech.
For example, you’ll automatically get specific data on things like your:
Speaking pace
Word choice (including filler word usage)
Body language
Cohesiveness
This speech coach also gives you clear, actionable feedback. That might be to slow down when you’re speaking, to avoid using as many filler words, or even to reword sections of your speech to improve the flow.
Using Yoodli during virtual work meetings can also be insightful, too. By using Private Yoodli, you can take a look at these metrics and analytics during an actual meeting. Plus, this speech coach can give you tips in real-time to improve your speech, so you’ll be more confident than ever.
Learn more about how that works below:
By taking advantage of real-time coaching from Yoodli, you can improve your self-confidence in speaking.
3. Read some self-confidence books.
Sometimes, reading about self-confidence and methods to improve can make a world of difference. Luckily, there’s tons of research and literature about having confidence and faith in yourself, so you’ll have an entire library of potential books to choose from.
Some of the best self-confidence books include titles like:
If you still find yourself needing some inspiration, check out these seven best motivational speeches.
4. Set (realistic) goals for yourself.
Setting goals is easy, but setting realistic goals? That’s a bit more difficult. Setting a realistic goal means identifying what you need to accomplish and how. Experts recommend setting SMART goals, an acronym that can be defined as follows:
S for “specific”
M for “measurable”
A for “attainable”
R for “relevant”
T for “time-bound”
To make the goals a bit more visible, try writing them down along with any steps you’ve identified to work towards them. If you appreciate lists, you can organize the steps into a checklist and check them off as you go, so you can visually see your progress.
Remember, perfection in humans doesn’t exist. It’s the same with the phrase “practice makes perfect.” Instead, a better phrase to use might be “practice makes progress.”
5. Learn to say no.
Saying no can be incredibly difficult. However, learning to say no to things you don’t want to do (or can’t do) is a must to boost your self-confidence.
First one thing, you’ll feel more confident in yourself that you even have the strength to say no. But beyond that, learning to say no ensures that you don’t take on too much work, take on work you hate, or work that you don’t have time for. This keeps your life less stressful and you’ll be proud of your ability to decline requests from people when needed.
6. Express your needs.
One of the biggest mistakes people make with self-confidence is not expressing their needs, emotions, and feelings. Hiding or feeling uncomfortable expressing yourself is tied to low confidence.
Expressing your needs could apply to anything. Although it certainly applies to romantic relationships, it can also refer to professional relationships, friendships, or even just to the person waiting on your table at a restaurant.
You’ll improve your confidence when you’re able to voice any concerns, needs, or emotions and have faith in yourself while doing so.
7. Stop making assumptions.
Making assumptions can seriously harm your confidence. On the other hand, actively ceasing to make assumptions can boost your self-confidence. Making assumptions about other people, situations, or even just yourself is a slippery slope that leads to a lack of confidence.
You might be surprised to realize how often you make assumptions, especially about other people. For example, you might be afraid to speak up and ask questions at work or school.
Your first thought may be, “But what if everyone thinks I’m dumb for asking this question?” By thinking this, you’re automatically making an assumption that everyone in the room will question your intelligence and competence merely because you asked a question.
If you go into work without assuming that, you’ll feel much more self-assured asking questions, for example.
Although it’s easier said than done, taking a moment to recognize assumptions you make about yourself, other people, or situations can help you avoid a ding to your confidence.
Why Is Self-Confidence Important?
Self-confidence is important because research shows that having confidence in yourself improves not only your social life, but also your health. And these benefits aren’t just brief — they’re long-term benefits.
Researchers found that people who have high levels of self-confidence often have:
Better mental health
Fruitful relationships
Improved physical health
Improved success at work or school
These are just a few reasons why self-confidence is important, but there are plenty of other benefits you can reap from boosting your confidence in yourself.
Best Self-Confidence Quotes
Before we wrap up, here are the best self-confident quotes to inspire and motivate you.
If you’re feeling low or having trouble with motivation, some of the following self-confidence quotes might help:
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” –Maya Angelou
“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” –e e cummings
“Your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude.” –Michelle Obama
“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” –Vincent Van Gogh
“It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else’s eyes.” –Sally Field
“Always be yourself — express yourself, have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.” –Bruce Lee
“You have no control over other people’s taste, so focus on staying true to your own.” –Tim Gunn
“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” –Oscar Wilde
“Tear off the mask, your face is glorious.” –Rumi
Next time you’re feeling low, try reading or even saying some of these self-confidence quotes aloud — it’s an easy way to “trick” your mind into feeling a bit more positive about yourself.
The Bottom Line
Self-confidence is incredibly important and should be a life goal for everyone to improve their own self-confidence. The benefits are essentially endless and the actual process of building up your own confidence doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
By following the above seven ways to improve your self-confidence, you’ll be able to start your own journey to improvement. Just remember to have patience with yourself and to recognize that every person is on their own journey.
Eulogies are pretty versatile. Some of the best eulogies ever written are emotional, brief, drawn-out, descriptive, respectful, or even humorous. It completely depends on the person giving the eulogy and the person the eulogy is for.
But there’s one thing they have in common — they exist to praise and remember someone who’s no longer living.
We’ll introduce you to some of the best eulogies ever written (and how AI can help you analyze them).
How AI Can Help You Analyze the Best Eulogies Ever Written
Artificial intelligence is as accessible as ever and the ways in which it can be used are endless. For example, you can analyze the best eulogies ever written and pinpoint exactly why they’re considered the best of the best using AI. A tool like Yoodli can show you the data and metrics associated with the best eulogies.
Yoodli is a virtual speech coach that uses generative AI to analyze a person’s speech and speaking habits. It evaluates not only the content of what’s being said but also the delivery. As such, users get personalized insights on things like:
Word choice
Repetition
Filler word usage
Conciseness
Speaking pace and variation
And even body language, like facial expressions and eye contact
You can see these same valuable insights by uploading some of the best eulogies ever written to Yoodli.
Learn more about how to use Yoodli to improve your own public speaking in our explainer video:
Find out why the best eulogies ever written are the best by analyzing them with Yoodli.
Top 7 Best Eulogies Ever Written
There are many factors that can make a eulogy stand out, whether it’s the speech’s content or the speaker’s delivery. Regardless, eulogies are some of the most powerful types of speech out there.
Here are the seven best eulogies ever written that honor and remember famous, influential people for who they were and what they stood for.
1. Maya Angelou’s Eulogy for Coretta Scott King
Writer and activist Coretta Scott King played a central role in the civil rights movement and ultimately helped change history surrounding the rights of Black Americans. She was known for uplifting and supporting those around her, including her husband, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Her death on Jan. 30, 2006 led to an emotive 8-hour funeral in Lithonia, Georgia. Numerous presidents — including Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and both George H. W. and George W Bush — attended her funeral. Future president Barack Obama was also in attendance.
Famed writer and poet Maya Angelou wrote a beautiful, moving eulogy for King that stands out as one of the seven best eulogies ever written. In it, she breathes new life into the person King was, and illuminates her persona expertly.
Her passion was never spent in public display. She offered her industry and her energies to action, toward righting ancient and current wrongs in this world.
She believed religiously in nonviolent protest.
She believed it could heal a nation mired in a history of slavery and all its excesses.
She believed non-violent protest religiously could lift up a nation rife with prejudices and racial bias.
She was a quintessential African-American woman, born in the small-town repressive South, born of flesh and destined to become iron, born — born a cornflower and destined to become a steel-magnolia.
Angelou’s poignant eulogy is a shining example of what a eulogy should be: an emotive goodbye to someone who was loved, cherished, and will continue to be celebrated for decades to come.
2. Oprah Winfrey’s Eulogy for Rosa Parks
The name Rosa Parks brings many connotations to mind: courage, defiance, valor, and equality, to name a few. Her life was incredibly monumental and her commitment to the fight for civil rights had lasting effects, particularly for the United States.
Though Parks died on Oct. 24, 2005, her continuous activism earned her the titles “the mother of the freedom movement” and “the first lady of civil rights.”
Oprah Winfrey, the famous talk show host and television producer, gave a thoughtful eulogy for Parks.
I’m here today to say a final thank you, Sister Rosa, for being a great woman who used your life to serve, to serve us all. That day that you refused to give up your seat on the bus, you, Sister Rosa, changed the trajectory of my life and the lives of so many other people in the world. I would not be standing here today nor standing where I stand every day had she not chosen to sit down. I know that. I know that. I know that. I know that, and I honor that. Had she not chosen to say we shall not — we shall not be moved.
So I thank you again, Sister Rosa, for not only confronting the one white man who[se] seat you took, not only confronting the bus driver, not only for confronting the law, but for confronting history, a history that for 400 years said that you were not even worthy of a glance, certainly no consideration. I thank you for not moving.
Because Winfrey has extensive experience with public speaking, her eulogy’s delivery was strong, emotional, and even motivational. In it, she discusses Parks’ role on her own life, from her childhood to her adulthood.
Parks was an inspiration for Winfrey, and this is evident in her eulogy. She spoke on Parks’ lasting legacy — including her tireless activism and dedicated work toward equality — and how her work motivated not only Winfrey, but the entire world watching.
3. Bindi Irwin’s Eulogy for Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin’s death shocked the world. The famed Australian “Crocodile Hunter” died on Sept. 4, 2006, after a stingray barb punctured his chest.
Steve was a famous environmentalist, conservationist, and zookeeper, and made such a lasting impact on the natural world that he even had a species of snail named after him: the Crikey steveirwini.
His funeral service took place that same month and his 8-year-old daughter, Bindi, delivered the eulogy. In fact, she asked her mother if she could give the eulogy, despite the fact that she’d have a global audience of 300 million TV viewers.
Bindi Irwin’s speech is easily one of the best eulogies ever written.
Her eulogy was both inspirational and heart-breaking all at the same time. Bindi recalled memories of spending time with father and mentioned a growing passion for continuing her father’s impressive work.
We filmed together, caught crocodiles together and loved being in the bush together. I don’t want Daddy’s passion to ever end. I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did.
I have the best Daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day. When I see a crocodile I will always think of him and I know that Daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals. Daddy made this place his whole life and now it’s our turn to help Daddy.
Bindi is definitely the youngest on our list of the seven best eulogies ever written and yet she delivered one of the most powerful speeches during an extremely difficult, distressing time.
4. John Cleese’s Eulogy for Graham Chapman
British actor and comedian Graham Chapman was someone who knew how to make people laugh. And he did it often, especially as a member of the comedy group Monty Python. In fact, most people recognize him from his roles in the films “Life of Brian” and “Holy Grail.”
After he died on Oct. 4, 1989, Chapman’s good friend John Cleese delivered the most humorous eulogy on the list — perhaps the most humorous ever.
Though humor is often avoided in eulogies, Cleese stepped into his role as a comedian and gave a eulogy he thought Chapman would’ve enjoyed.
He shared memories full of shock humor and celebrated Chapman’s successes, especially those relating to his work as a comedian.
But bolder and less inhibited spirits than me follow today. Jones and Idle, Gilliam and Palin. Heaven knows what the next hour will bring in Graham’s name. Trousers dropping, blasphemers on pogo sticks, spectacular displays of high-speed farting, synchronized incest. One of the four is planning to stuff a dead ocelot and a 1922 Remington typewriter up his own arse to the sound of the second movement of Elgar’s cello concerto. And that’s in the first half.
Because you see, Gray would have wanted it this way. Really. Anything for him but mindless good taste. And that’s what I’ll always remember about him — apart, of course, from his Olympian extravagance. He was the prince of bad taste. He loved to shock. In fact, Gray, more than anyone I knew, embodied and symbolized all that was most offensive and juvenile in Monty Python. And his delight in shocking people led him on to greater and greater feats. I like to think of him as the pioneering beacon that beat the path along which fainter spirits could follow.
By the end of his eulogy, Cleese became the first-ever person to say “fuck” during a televised British memorial service — an achievement that no doubt would’ve amused Chapman to no end.
You can watch Cleese’s eulogy below.
John Cleese’s eulogy for Chapman is one of the seven best eulogies ever written.
5. Mona Simpson’s Eulogy for Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs, the inventor and co-founder, CEO, and chairman of Apple, died on Oct. 5, 2011. His sister, Mona Simpson, gave a heartfelt eulogy at Jobs’ funeral.
Simpson — who was actually Jobs’ long-lost sister — wrote a eulogy which was read during the service. In it, she recalls the first time she met him, his impressive work ethic, his loyalty, and his philosophy.
She paints Jobs not as the renowned business magnate in his signature black turtleneck. Instead, Simpson presents her version of her brother: an intelligent but emotional, kind-hearted man who cherished his family.
Novelty was not Steve’s highest value. Beauty was.
For an innovator, Steve was remarkably loyal. If he loved a shirt, he’d order 10 or 100 of them. In the Palo Alto house, there are probably enough black cotton turtlenecks for everyone in this church.
He didn’t favor trends or gimmicks. He liked people his own age.
His philosophy of aesthetics reminds me of a quote that went something like this: “Fashion is what seems beautiful now but looks ugly later; art can be ugly at first but it becomes beautiful later.”
Steve always aspired to make beautiful later.
Despite the hurdles Jobs faced early in the industry, his dedication to his job led him to success.
Simpson’s eulogy for her brother is a beautiful retelling of the 27 years she knew Jobs. Although the majority of the world only recognizes Jobs as the co-founder of the world’s largest tech company, Simpson shows us a more human version of the same man.
This eulogy leverages Simpson’s many anecdotes to elucidate the kind of person Jobs was, making it one of the seven best eulogies ever written.
6. Charles Spencer’s Eulogy for Princess Diana of Wales
The death of Princess Diana of Wales was one that shook the entire world. That’s how influential she was.
Princess Diana died on Aug. 31, 1997, following a car accident. As the world was still reeling, Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, gave his eulogy for Diana. In it, Spencer described his sister — the people’s Princess — and her humanitarian, caring nature.
Diana was the very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty. All over the world she was a symbol of selfless humanity. All over the world, a standard bearer for the rights of the truly downtrodden, a very British girl who transcended nationality. Someone with a natural nobility who was classless and who proved in the last year that she needed no royal title to continue to generate her particular brand of magic.
He also spoke of some of the hardships she faced, particularly at the hands of what he referred to as “the media.” Princess Diana was constantly hounded and harassed by paparazzi, and was indeed being chased by paparazzi moments before the car crash that ended her life.
Spencer even mentioned the irony of her name, as she was “given the name of the ancient goddess of hunting,” yet died as the “most hunted person of the modern age.”
His eulogy for Diana was simultaneously powerful and devastating — A somber funeral speech for one of the most loved figures in history.
7. Barack Obama’s Eulogy for Rep. John Lewis
Though Barack Obama has always been a strong, effective speaker, his eulogy for John Lewis was especially powerful.
Lewis died on July 17, 2020, leaving behind an impressive legacy. He was a civil rights activist and represented Georgia’s 5th congressional district.
Though his death was a somber occasion at a tumultuous time during the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic, Obama expertly delivered this tribute to an American hero.
The life of John Lewis was, in so many ways, exceptional. It vindicated the faith in our founding, redeemed that faith; that most American of ideas; that idea that any of us ordinary people without rank or wealth or title or fame can somehow point out the imperfections of this nation, and come together, and challenge the status quo, and decide that it is in our power to remake this country that we love until it more closely aligns with our highest ideals.
What a radical ideal. What a revolutionary notion. This idea that any of us, ordinary people, a young kid from Troy can stand up to the powers and principalities and say no this isn’t right, this isn’t true, this isn’t just. We can do better. On the battlefield of justice, Americans like John, Americans like the Reverends Lowery and C.T. Vivian, two other patriots that we lost this year, liberated all of us that many Americans came to take for granted.
America was built by people like them. America was built by John Lewises. He as much as anyone in our history brought this country a little bit closer to our highest ideals. And someday, when we do finish that long journey toward freedom; when we do form a more perfect union — whether it’s years from now, or decades, or even if it takes another two centuries — John Lewis will be a founding father of that fuller, fairer, better America.
His words helped solidify Lewis’ legacy and place as a key player in American history, and is certainly a worthy pick for the seven best eulogies ever written.
The Main Takeaway
Giving a eulogy can be an extremely daunting task. If you’ve written an eulogy and plan to deliver it aloud, an AI speech coach like Yoodli can help you practice and improve until you feel confident.
Unlike other speech coaches, Yoodli is completely free. Try it out today to start gaining more confidence when public speaking.
If you’ve ever seen a television show, you’ve probably seen an anecdote.
When characters reminisce about their childhood or even about the dinner they had the night before, that’s considered an anecdote. These are useful devices for not only television show writing, but also in speeches and everyday conversation.
To learn more about anecdotes, how they work, and why you should use them, explore our below guide on this resourceful technique.
What Are Anecdotes?
At its core, an anecdote is a story. Usually, anecdotes are true, personal short stories that the speaker or writer recalls to an audience. However, they can be fictional, too.
Because they’re short stories, they are simple and easy to understand. That doesn’t mean they’re all the same, though.
Anecdotes can be extremely versatile and differ greatly depending on the speaker and context. For example, it could be an embarrassing moment someone recalls or a serious, traumatic memory shared to educate or inform someone.
These are often personal, but regardless, they revolve around one person in most cases. These stories are usually interesting or amusing to the listener.
How to pronounce ‘anecdote’
The word “anecdote” is pronounced like: “an-ik-doh-tuh.” This word was first recorded in the 17th century.
People often confuse other words for “anecdote,” such as “antidote” or “antedate.”
Anecdote synonyms
In terms of anecdote synonyms, there are a few similar words worth noting. These can help exemplify the meaning of anecdotes a little further.
For example, some of the most common anecdote synonyms include:
Story
Narrative
Episode
Reminiscence
Tale
Types of Anecdotes
Cluttering can look different for everyone. No one person speaks the same. Still, looking at some examples can better demonstrate what this type of speech can look like.
Keep in mind that although there’s specific types of anecdotes, some people combine multiple types. For example, your own short story might fall into a few of these categories. Here are the five types of anecdotes you need to know.
1. Reminiscent
One of the most recognized types of anecdotes is reminiscent. In other words, they rely on moments in the speaker’s past. Depending on the speaker’s purpose and intent, this type of short story can evoke emotions, especially nostalgia.
2. Humorous
Humorous anecdotes are one of the most popular types, if not the most popular. These types of stories are mostly for entertainment, although they’re also commonly used in speeches. It might start out as a typical story, but the jokes and humor used can make the story humorous as a whole.
In media — such as television shows, movies, and books — you’ll start to notice that humorous anecdotes are often used directly after a serious or climactic moment in efforts to lighten the mood.
3. Cautionary
Some writers and speakers prefer to use anecdotes as cautionary tales. Negative consequences can be a great motivator for an audience to take your story seriously and grow from whatever lesson the story is meant to teach.
For example, you might use a cautionary anecdote if you’re trying to teach someone a lesson. You might recall a time when you chose to arrive at the airport half an hour before your flight. The consequence of missing your flight might encourage a listener to get there earlier so as to not make the same mistake.
Examples of cautionary anecdotes include:
Fairy tales
Historical myths
Parables from religious texts
4. Inspirational
If you’re trying to encourage, motivate, or excite your audience, inspirational anecdotes might be perfect for you. This type of anecdote uses serious, emotional, or dramatic recollections with moments that the audience can relate to.
For writers who specialize in speeches for example, inspirational anecdotes are the most common strategy to hook the readers or listeners. Politicians also use this type of short story to target their voters and motivate them to action.
5. Characterizing
For someone looking to further develop a character — real or fictional — characterizing is a great way to do so.
This type of anecdote leverages the story to shed light on what the character is like, especially with regard to their personality. These stories stand out because they show aspects of the character that the audience wouldn’t normally see.
You’ll see characterizing anecdotes in places like:
Television shows
Movies
Books
Plays
When to Use Anecdotes
Whether you’re giving a speech, chatting with a friend, or writing a paper, anecdotes are a great way to captivate your audience. You can use them in so many scenarios that they’re considered a fantastic literary device.
If you’re speaking or writing and you need to include either background information or extra context, anecdotes are a good way to connect that information to your main story. You can also use them to grab your audience’s attention, especially if the primary narrative is dry, dull, or serious.
They can also act as a transition in both speech and writing.
Some worthy times for when to use an anecdote include:
For persuasive essays or speeches, during which you’re trying to convince or motivate your audience
In everyday conversation, when you’re recalling a memory
During formal (or informal) speeches to grab the attention of your audience
In television scenes or other theatrical work
However, these are just some examples of when to use an anecdote. Keep in mind that these can be used in so many various situations thanks to the versatile types you can use.
Purpose of Anecdotes
So, what’s the purpose of anecdotes?
In a nutshell, this type of short story is to make a bigger point and expand on the main narrative in a tangential way. They can connect complex topics and ideas in a simple, straightforward way while also captivating your audience.
They can strengthen arguments, inspire people to action, show a side of your favorite TV character that you haven’t seen before, or make your best friend laugh uncontrollably. The possibilities are essentially endless.
For example, TEDxABQED speaker Ian Esquibel recalls a childhood dog attack in his speech, and discusses times during grade school when he was bullied for facial differences.
Esquibel expertly tells this anecdote from his childhood to better illustrate the message of his speech.
To better understand the purpose of anecdotes, let’s take a look at some examples.
Anecdote Examples
Because anecdotes are used so often (and have been for centuries), there are plenty of noteworthy examples that can give you a better idea of what these short stories can do.
For example, many famous speeches feature gripping or captivating anecdotes.
Famous anecdotes in speech
In speeches, an anecdote can connect complex ideas, motivate an audience, or something else entirely; they’re that versatile.Famous anecdotes in speech can come in many forms too, such as the ones seen in the top seven most motivational speeches.
For some more examples, check out these three anecdotes, in both film and speeches.
1. At the funeral of legendary basketball player Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal shares a story of during his eulogy. He combines the reminiscent and humorous types to tell this tale of the time when Bryant first earned O’Neal’s respect.
Shaquille O’Neal tells the story of when Kobe Bryant earned his respect.
2. Actress and “Saturday Night Live” host Jenna Ortega remembers her time as a child in the film industry. She expertly combines the humorous and reminiscent types to entertain her audience.
Jenna Ortega remembers her life as a child actress in her anecdote.
3. “Adventure Time” character Marceline recalls memories from her childhood and uses an anecdote to both flesh out her character more and entertain the audience. She also uses the story to describe what another character’s personality was like before he changed dramatically.
Marceline remembers the person Simon used to be, when she was a child.
Anecdotes in literature
Anecdotes in literature are plentiful. From poetry to screenplays to novels, you can find these short stories in almost any form, including in monologues.
Here are some common examples of anecdotes in literature.
In Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” one of the main characters, Abigail, “remembers” stories that conveniently explain why she was seen dancing in the woods
The book “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen is in and of itself an anecdote recalled by the protagonist, Jacob Jankowski
The famous “Go Set a Watchman,” by Harper Lee features character Scout reminiscing about her childhood
In the self-titled “Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir,” Tan uses a plethora of anecdotes to paint the picture of her youth
Anyone can write an anecdote, whether it’s for a speech or for school. Here’s how.
How to Write an Anecdote
No matter the reason or context, the steps to writing a great anecdote are pretty simple. If you’re ready to get started on your own personal short story, here are four easy steps to write an anecdote.
1. Choose a relevant event or happening that you experienced. This could be anything. For example, maybe you’d like to tell your kids the story of how you met your partner. Or maybe you’d rather recall the time you went to explore the woods behind your house only to return with eight ticks to emphasize how important it is to wear bug spray. Whatever the story is, it’s best to choose one that somehow relates back to your original narrative.
If you were talking to an environmental science class about to collect water samples from a local creek, the tick bite anecdote might be the perfect way to motivate the students to practice outdoor safety.
2. Identify a type of anecdote for your story. Remember the types of anecdotes mentioned above? When you’re telling or writing a short story like this, it’s easier if you choose a theme or two from the types list.
If your story is meant to be comedic and light-hearted, you’d want to steer clear of the cautionary theme. Nailing down an initial theme can help keep you on the right path.
3. Structure your story for your audience. Your anecdote will depend on your audience. For example, if you’re an author trying to flesh out a character, a backstory that takes place with the character was younger can show a bit of their history and background. This can further illustrate who the character is.
Your structure would be different if your audience was a group of young teenagers who you’re trying to motivate to study for the upcoming exam. If this was the case, you might recall a time when you yourself failed to study for an exam and paid the price with a failing grade.
4. Connect your anecdote to your larger narrative. Lastly, make sure your anecdote makes sense to the main story by clearly connecting it to the larger narrative. This is perhaps the easiest step.
To do so, think of the meaning behind your main topic. If you’re writing a screenplay in which a character is explaining why they became evil, make sure your anecdote that reminisces on the character’s past relates to their origin story.
Here are some more tips and tricks for crafting the perfect anecdote.
Tips for the Perfect Anecdote
If you’re aiming to include an anecdote in your writing or speech, here are some tips to ensure you get the most out of sharing your short story.
There are three main tips for writing the perfect anecdote, from writing it out to incorporating direct feedback.
Write it out
No matter if you’re giving a speech or writing an essay with an anecdote, be sure you first write the entire short story out.
Although you might envision it as a waste of time — especially if the story is for a speech — writing out your anecdote lets you see it in its entirety, right in front of you. It’ll be easier for you to see any mistakes, awkward areas, or other minor inconveniences when you can visually see it.
Practice
If you’re telling an anecdote as part of a speech, there’s no question about it: You need to practice.
A great way to practice your story after you write it out is through an AI speech coach like Yoodli. You can upload a video of you practice (or record one directly on Yoodli) and get instant analytics and feedback to help you improve.
Yoodli can help rephrase areas in your anecdote that need work.
For example, Yoodli might suggest you slow down while telling the anecdote because you’re speaking too fast. You might also get tips on areas where you can make the language tighter or more concise to make sure your anecdote isn’t too long.
It’s a safe space to practice this rhetorical device without fear of judgment.
Get feedback
A commonly overlooked aspect of crafting anecdotes is incorporating feedback. When you write down your anecdote, try saying it to a friend or letting them read it if that’s more comfortable for you.
By doing this, you can use another set of eyes to identify any trouble areas, like confusing tidbits or even just incorrect grammar. You can take advantage of Yoodli’s free services to get actionable feedback, too.
The Main Takeaway
Anecdotes are one of the most useful tools you can leverage in both speeches and writings. They’re extremely versatile, so they’re perfect for almost any occasion.
Just remember to practice your anecdote with an AI speech coach like Yoodli to ensure it’s the best it can be (and fits your overall narrative). You’ll be glad you did when you have an anecdote that works for your speech or writing.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a public speaker, a school teacher, or someone who’s giving a presentation at work — we can all agree that losing your audience’s interest isn’t a good feeling.
Luckily, attention getters can mitigate this and help engage and captivate your audience. It’s a great tool to implement in the classroom, during a presentation, or during a speech.
We’ll explore what attention getters are, some great attention getter examples, and how to use them properly to make sure you can engage and keep your audience engaged.
What Are Attention Getters?
In a nutshell, attention getters are a means of grabbing someone’s attention through a visual or auditory signal.
So, for example, if someone were to begin their presentation with an anecdote or an outrageous (but true) statement, those would qualify as attention getters. Flickering the lights on and off in a classroom is also an attention getter, even though there’s no auditory component.
Attention Getters Examples
Attention getters are so versatile that they can be adapted for almost any situation. Here are some of the best attention getters examples to check out.
Speech attention getters examples
Luckily, there are tons of speech attention getters examples. Some of the best attention getters for speeches or presentations include:
Humorous anecdotes
Questions (both rhetorical and response-worthy questions are great choices)
A bold (but true) statement
Relevant statistics
Visualizations
An interesting or intriguing anecdote
Jokes
A relevant quote
Analogies
Classroom attention getters examples
Classroom attention getters can vary by the students’ ages or grades, so we’ll break them down into three groups: elementary school, middle school, and high school.
For elementary school students, you could try:
Teacher: “1, 2, 3, eyes on me!” (Response: “1, 2, eyes on you!”)
Teacher: “A, B, C…” (Response: “1, 2, 3!”)
Teacher: “3, 2, 1…” (Response: “Blast off!”)
Some options for middle school students include:
Teacher: “If you can hear my voice, clap once.” (Response: [students clap])
Teacher: “If you’re not talking, point at me.” (Response: [students point])
Teacher: “Eyes on me, please.” (Response: [students look])
For high school students, some attention getters you could try include:
Setting an alarm to go off
Raising your hand or clapping
Flickering the lights on and off
Types of Attention Getters
Attention getters can be pretty diverse in terms of what they’re used for. There are tons of types of attention getters, but we’ll just focus on the most common: for speeches and public speaking, and for classrooms.
Attention getters for speeches
Implementing attention getters in your speech or presentation is a great idea. Captivating the listeners in this way is an engaging method for ensuring your message is getting through to your target audience.
Here are some attention getter tips for public speaking that you should keep in mind.
1. Try starting with an anecdote. An anecdote is a short, personal story. These can help the audience relate to and identify with you, and it can be an interesting way to kick things off. For example, when you start your work presentation with an interesting or particularly comedic anecdote, it can help capture the attention of your audience. It can also set the tone for your entire presentation, so it’s one of the best attention getters.
2. Ask a thought-provoking question. To engage and get your audience thinking, try asking a question. You should ask a question that’s something worth pondering or will get discussion started. Your audience will wonder what you’ve got to say and this type of attention getter ensures they’re anticipating your response. In general, you should try to avoid close-ended questions. That’s because they’re usually “yes” or “no” questions and don’t provide good discussion points.
3. Be sure to make eye contact. One of the most important aspects of speaking in public is making eye contact with your audience. It’s also a great way to get the audience’s attention. It’ll show them you’re speaking or presenting directly to them when you make eye contact with individual members of your audience. Making eye contact also shows that you’re comfortable and confident as a speaker, which helps engage audiences.
4. Use some visual aids. If you’re trying to draw your audience’s attention, try using some visual aids. Using things like videos, graphics, diagrams, or slides can also emphasize key points in your speech. Visual aids can help your audience understand your presentation better and break up your speech.
5. Use your voice. The last thing you want to do during a speech or presentation is speak in a monotonic tone. This has the opposite effect on an audience and can bore them. Instead, try emphasizing important words and using various tones to engage your audience. To maintain your audience’s interest, you can also try changing up your volume, cadence, and speed during your speech.
6. Finish with a call to action. When you’re ready to wrap up, make sure you’ve still got your audience’s attention by using a call to action. Not only do they help you get their attention, but a call to action can also emphasize some of the main points you made during your speech or presentation.
Attention getters for the classroom
If you’re a teacher or work in education, you know that managing a room of students — no matter what age — isn’t exactly easy. Getting students’ attention can be difficult too, especially in the age of the iPhone and ChatGTP. But attention getters for the classroom can be a game changer.
In the classroom, attention getters can help instructors get the attention of students using visual or auditory signals. These types are often “call and response,” meaning students hear or see the cue and respond, to show they’re paying attention.
Nowadays, some teachers even grab inspiration from TikTok. Here are five excellent attention getters from teachers on TikTok worth trying if you’ve got a classroom of kids.
Teacher @the_mr.thomas uses a variety of attention getters, from specific media references to simpler call-and-response examples.
On the other hand, teacher @thatweirdchoirteacher allowed her students to create their own creative attention grabbers
For younger children who are in kindergarten, @katduhleen uses age-appropriate references to shows like “Scooby Doo.”
Teacher @spicynuggets implements classroom attention getters that reference popular viral TikTok sounds and videos (e.g., “bombastic side eye” and “what you looking for, we got what you looking for!”).
How AI Can Help You Practice Attention Getters
If you’re trying to practice an attention getter — whether it’s for the classroom, a presentation, or a speech — there’s no better way to do so than Yoodli.
Instead of practicing in a mirror (which is helpful too!), you can have your speech expertly analyzed by an AI speech coach. Unlike other AI communication coaches, speech coach apps, or in-person coaches, Yoodli is free to start.
To begin, record or upload a video of yourself speaking. You could be practicing your speech or presentation, or simply practicing the attention getter. Once you’re done talking, Yoodli provides you with feedback and actionable insights.
You can these valuable insights and coaching comments when you practice attention getters with Yoodli.
In addition to a full, timestamped transcript of what was said, you’ll get metrics and analytics regarding your speaking pace, word choice, body language, and filler word usage, among others. You can then use these insights — plus Yoodli’s actionable feedback and coaching suggestions — to completely transform the way you speak and present, including the way you use attention getters.
Learn how you can use Yoodli to practice not only attention getters but also public speaking:
You can easily use Yoodli to practice attention getters (and other public speaking tools).
Why Are Attention Getters Important?
Although they’re often overlooked, attention getters are very important. For those giving a speech or presentation, attention getters can secure the audience’s interest and keep them engaged. This will make it more likely that they remember your presentation or speech and more importantly, what was said.
In the classroom, they’re just as important. They’re an essential tool for managing and maintaining a calm learning environment (no matter what ages the students are).
The Key Takeaway
If you want to grab your audience’s attention, there’s no better way to do so than through an attention getter. These will also make sure your message — whether you’re presenting or teaching — sticks with your audience. Just make sure you practice a few attention getters before you implement them.
